Tiffany Magee, state director of Miss Black Louisiana, empowered and inspired attendees at “Empowering Our Women” Monday in the Royal Cotillion Ballroom.
“Empowering Our Women” was presented by the Association of Women’s Students and SU chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.
KoiEles Lomas, a senior political science major from Gonzales, said, “Through this program, we as African American women were able to have an honest conversation about who we are and why it’s important to carry ourselves with pride, class, and respect.”
The program began with an icebreaker called Who am I? The icebreaker consisted of slips of paper with descriptions of empowering women and attendees had to guess the women’s names. Lomas continued, “We must not comply with the status quo, but always strive to go above and beyond what is expected of us.”
A brief power point presentation was exhibited about empowering women. Attendees were able to see contributions from women such as; the woman who invented the hairbrush to the women who were educators. The slideshow included; Mary McLeod Bethune, Mahalia Jackson, Zora Neale Hurston and Wilma Rudolph.
“Personally, I feel like the women at tonight’s program were significantly empowered by the various levels of inspiration given. We covered various issues and I know that the lovely young women who attended left more inspired than when they came,” said Brittany Robinson, a senior psychology major from Ypsilanti, Mich.
Magee explained the cost and course of greatness in three major themes including; greatness from sacrifice, greatness from service, and greatness from focus and not being silly. She opened with a quote from Martin Luther King, Jr. “Everyone can be great because everyone can serve.”
Magee defined “serve” as an acronym. “To serve you need to See the future, Engage and developing others, Re-invent yourself, Value the results and relationships, and Embody your passion,” said Magee. Women shared their passions of advocating for the homeless, abused children, dance, and shopping.
Magee stressed the need for community effort she said, “If we don’t support each other who is going to support us?” She concluded with emphasis on the need for young ladies not to depict women in music videos but, be presented as young women.
The program ended with words of inspiration from the audience. Kenisha Solete, a senior child development major from New Orleans said, “My aunt the most empowering woman in my life. She is the first college graduate. She was in nursing and lead my family. It is always good to look up to a person of leadership.”
Each statement of empowerment gave inspiration to the others attending. Some were inspired by being the first to be in college in their families and others inspired their families by leaving home and becoming successful.
“The most empowering woman in my life is my mother. She has been through trials and tribulations and her leadership has allowed me to attend college, and become a woman of strength and respect. I encourage all women to do the same,” said Tanequa Franklin, junior psychology major from Crowley, La.
AWS will be hosting events during their week entitled, “Walk a mile in my shoes feel my Strive for Opportunities of Leadership and Excellence including; a domestic awareness forum and the Mr. AWS pageant.
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AWS week begins with empowerment
September 20, 2010
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